Gold Phoenix (IRE)

Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred Belardo gelding, won his debut on an all-weather track in Ireland in February 2021 and was then sent to the U.S. and trainer Phil D’Amato. He lost his debut in January 2022 by a half-length at Santa Anita Park and finished second again in a race on Santa Anita Park’s downhill turf course in March, but broke through with his first U.S. win in a one-mile allowance-optional claiming race on April 2 at Santa Anita. He then made his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes and rallied to finish third by 1 ¾ lengths.

The gelding finished second and third in his next two races at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Finally, he put it all together at a most opportune time, rallying six wide to just get up at the finish and defeat Master Piece by a head to win the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by Japan Racing Association on Sept. 3 at Del Mar. Gold Phoenix earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf with the victory.

Subsequently in his next outing in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, Gold Phoenix settled for a 10th-place finish.

Gold Phoenix came back to begin his 5-year-old campaign on March 4, 2023 at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile. Racing at the shorter-than-usual distance for him, Gold Phoenix was sent off at 10-1 odds on the tote board in a field of eight and ran much of the race in the back half of a compact field. He then kicked into gear as the field turned for home and came with a strong late surge in deep stretch to get the lead. He then held off a last-second bid by Du Jour to win by a neck in a time of 1:34.45 over a turf course labeled good.

Gold Phoenix is out of the winning Mizzen Mast mare Magnifica, who is a full sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Sea Defense and to dual Grade 2 winner Jibboom.